Cape Town Opera has partnered with the St Mary’s Primary school for the last five years. Our voice coaches, the school music teachers and learners have successfully staged adaptations of various operas such as Hansel and Gretel, The Magic Flute and Don Pasquale. Over the last few weeks CTO’s award-winning chorus worked with young learners and yesterday hosted a choral concert in the Retreat community. Choral favorites sung included ‘I will follow him (from Sister Act) and Java Jive (I love coffee, I love tea) and wonderful traditional African spirituals. The joy and enthusiasm on these learners’ faces when they sing is priceless and they sing their hearts out.
Ladies and gentlemen from the Douglas Murray home for the aged attended the final dress rehearsal performance at the St. Mary’s School at 3pm Thursday 30th May. We spoke to some of them after the concert and they were beaming with delight and so, so thrilled to have heard the angelic voices of the learners and the powerful voices of the Cape Town Opera Chorus. Parents, family and friends were invited to the 6pm evening performance.
Directed by Elisabeth Manduell
Chorus Master Marvin Kernelle
Accompanist Juan Burgers
Photographs by Niel Roux